88 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
one of which has variegated leaves. The Sycamore is called the Plane Tree in Scotland, though it is quite 
different from the tree known by that name in England. The name of the genus, Acer, is derived from the 
Celtic word for sharp, in allusion to the hardness of the wood, which was employed by the Saxons for making 
the pointed staves which the serfs used in battle. The genus is placed in the Linnaean class Octandria, on 
account of the eight stamens of its flowers ; and in the order Monogynia, from their single style. 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
- o- 
THE GERANIUM FAMILY. (Geraniaceas, Juss.) 
Character of the Order. —Sepals five, persistent, more or less 
unequal, with an imbricated astivation ; one sometimes saccate, or 
spurred at the base. Petals five, seldom four in consequence of one 
being abortive, unguiculate, equal or unequal, either hypogynous or 
perigynous. Stamens usually monadelphous, hypogynous, or perigy- 
nous, twice or thrice as many as the petals; some occasionally abortive. 
Ovarium composed of five pieces placed round an elevated axis, each 
one-celled, one-seeded ; ovula pendulous; styles five, cohering round 
the elongated axis. Fruit formed of five pieces, cohering round 
Description, &c.—This order contains only two 
a lengthened indurated axis ; each piece consisting of one cell, contain¬ 
ing one seed, having a membranous pericarpium, and terminated hv an 
indurated style, which finally curls back from the base upwards, 
carrying the pericarpium along with it. Seeds solitary, pendulous, 
without albumen. Embryo curved ; radicle pointing to the base of 
the cell ; cotyledons foliaceous, convolute and plaited. Herbaceous 
plants or shrubs. Stems tumid at the joints. Leaves either opposite 
or alternate ; in the latter case opposite the peduncles. Stipules mem¬ 
branous. ( Lindley .) 
genera of British plants, viz. Geranium and Erodium. 
The difference between these genera is very slight, and consists chiefly in the manner in which the carpels 
containing the seed separate from the axis to which they are attached. In the genus Geranium, the styles, 
which are smooth inside, curl up round and round, like the coil of a rope; while those of the Erodium, which 
are hairy inside, curl up spirally. There are also ten perfect stamens in the Geranium ; while in the Erodium, 
only five of the stamens are perfect, and the other five are abortive. 
GENUS I. 
THE CRANE’S-BILL. (Geranium, Lin .) 
Lin. Syst. MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Sepals five, equal. Petals five, equal. 
Stamens ten, fertile, alternately' larger. Nectariferous glands at the 
base of the larger stamens. Indurated styles glabrous internally^ 
curling back from the axis, from the base to the point. Herbaceous 
plants with palmate lobed leaves, and one or two-flowered peduncles. 
(Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —Most persons who are fond of flowers, are so accustomed, when they hear the name of 
Geranium, to picture to themselves handsome, half-shrubby, greenhouse plants, that they can hardly fancy the 
possibility of common British weeds being Geraniums ; though they, in fact, have the greatest right to the name, 
nearly all the greenhouse Geraniums belonging to the genus Pelargonium. Some of the British Geraniums, 
or Crane’s-Bills as they are usually called, have very handsome flowers, but others are insignificant weeds ; and 
they ai’e all either perennials or annuals. All the species are astringent in their qualities; and in all the stems 
are swollen at the joints and the leaves are palmately lobed. The word Geranium signifies literally Crane’s- 
Bill. The genus is placed in the Linmean class Monadelphia, from the filaments of the stamens adhering 
together at the base ; and in the order Decandria, from its having ten stamens. The seed-pod consists of five 
carpels, each containing one seed, and each having a very long style, which adheres to the central axis. When 
the seeds are ripe, the seed-pod bursts, and the styles with the carpels attached curl up round the axis. 
